Gerson ben Solomon Kohen Katz

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Gerson ben Salomo Kohen Katz (also Gerson ben Salomo Kohen Katz , Gerschom ben Salomo Cohen , Gershom ben Shlomo Ha-Kohen , Gershon ben Shlomo (Solomon) Ha-Kohen , Gershon Katz , Gershon Kaz , Gerson Kaz , Gerson (Gerschom) ben Salomo Kaz , Gerschom ben Schlomo Kohen , Gerson (Gerschom) ben Salomo Kohen , Gerson ben Salomo Kohen or Gerschom Kohen ; * 1475 in Germany, † 1541 or 1544 in Prague) was a printer whose descendants came to be known as gersonids . He was of Jewish faith , founded the first Hebrew printing press in Prague and printed the first Passover Haggadah at the end of 1526 . It was illustrated with woodblock prints in the style of Holbein and Dürer , largely by Ḥayim Shaḥor , and is considered a masterpiece that greatly influenced the style of later Haggadahs.

family

His father was Salomo (Shlomo) Katz (including Salomo [Shlomo] Cohen), who was born in Speyer in 1450 and died in Prague in 1522 . His brother was Geronim [Hieronymus] ben Solomon Katz (including Geronim [Hieronymus] ben Solomon Cohen, 1480–1526).

His children were Solomon ben Gerson Katz (1498–1540), Moses ben Gerson Katz (1500–1556), Mordechai Zemach Katz (including Mordechai Rabbi Caz) (1502–1591), Judah ben Gerson Katz (1506–1541) and one Daughter by name [?] Asked Gerson ben Solomon Katz (* 1504).

The "Cazische Buchdruckerei" and the Gersoniden

At the beginning of the 16th century, Prague became the most important location for Hebrew printing companies in Central and Eastern Europe. In 1512 the first prayer book was printed there in Hebrew letters. In the same year founded Gerson ben Solomon Kohen Katz with several shareholders its Officin in Prague. His symbol, the hands raised in prayer, was to be seen on the end pages of several prints. In 1526 he applied for the privilege of being the only printer in Prague to produce Hebrew books, and received it a year later.

After initially working with partners, his four sons later also worked in the printing shop, which after the privilege had been granted no longer had to fear competition in Prague. Some of them were trained by Me'ir Miḥtam. The Helicz brothers took care of the distribution in Cracow ; Frankfurt am Main also played an important role in the sale of the works. Prayer books, the Pentateuch , exegetical writings and Talmud literature were part of the offer. After Gerson ben Solomon Kohen Katz's death, his son Moses applied to Ferdinand I for the same privilege that his father had already held. It was granted to him in 1545. The Officin flourished under the son Mordechai Zemach, later it was greatly enlarged and was successful until around 1594, but was then displaced by the competition and did not take off again until 1670. The gersonids held the printing press until 1728. At that time the "Cazische Buchdruckerei" passed into other hands. However, it carried her name until 1784.

Descendants of Gerson ben Salomo Kohen Katz worked as typesetters in Fürth, Wilmersdorf and Sulzbach in the 17th century. The typesetter Reichel asked Isaac ben Judah Jüdels Katz (1655–1701) to participate in the printing of Kabbalistic works. Their activity is documented in all of the places mentioned.

Publications

  • 1518: Pentateuch with commentary by Rashi
  • 1522: Maḥzor
  • 1526: Passover Haggadah

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Language discourses in early Prague around 1900, p. 75 , accessed on March 20, 2012
  2. a b c d e f g h Yivo Encyclopedia
  3. known from eleven names , accessed on March 22, 2012
  4. List of names and biographical data , accessed on March 31, 2012
  5. ^ The Hebrew printing works in Wilhermsdorf 1669–1739 , accessed on April 2, 2012
  6. Bayerische Israelitische Gemeindezeitung, p. 201 , accessed on March 31, 2012